Facile radical mediated synthesis of azetidin-2,3-diones: potential synthons for biologically active compounds

Abstract  

An operationally simple and efficient approach for the synthesis of azetidin-2,3-diones is described. The starting substrate 2-(2-bromobenzyloxy)ethanoyl chloride was treated with appropriate Schiff’s bases in triethylamine and dichloromethane to afford 3-(2-bromobenzyloxy)azetidin-2-ones. The synthesis of azetidin-2,3-diones was successfully achieved via radical mediated rearrangement of appropriately substituted 3-(2-bromobenzyloxy)azetidin-2-ones using n-tributyltin hydride and AIBN in refluxing dry benzene.